Maria Hatzigianni is a Lecturer in Digital Technologies and early years of education and also in History and Philosophy of Early Childhood Education. She is currently researching the use of digital technologies by very young children (0-3).

Research Interests

Maria’s primary area of research examines the use of technology by young children. She is especially interested in the associations between the use of digital technologies and young children’s social-emotional development and/or creativity. She is also interested in the philosophy of technology, critical and postmodern theories and the use of technology in early years.

Maria is also interested in multicultural and bilingual Education and social justice in Education.

Maria currently is leading a funded research project on what early childhood educators believe around the use of touchscreen technologies by very young children, 0-3 years old. This project follows up from an international project on parent’s beliefs on the same topic.

Teaching

Maria teaches in and convenes:

• Bachelor of Teaching (Birth to five) program: History and Philosophy of Early Childhood Education (ECHE120): exploring and understanding different theoretical principles in early childhood education and the early development of an early childhood philosophy.
• Bachelor of Education (Birth to twelve) programs: Mathematics, Science and Technology for young children (ECH232): developing learning sequences for supporting the learning of young children in maths, science and technology.
• Master of Teaching- Early Childhood: The postgraduate Internship (ECED829) with a specific focus on building a professional identity (use of digital portfolios).

Professional / Research-related/ Community roles

Maria is currently a reviewer in many early childhood and technology journals.

She advocates for Early Childhood Education and children’s rights through her position on the OMEP committee (NSW chapter) and her membership in associations, such as the Early Childhood Australia (ECA) and the European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA).

She supports and promotes bilingualism/multiculturalism from her active involvement in the Greek community of Sydney.

Maria was awarded a research fellowship by the Collaborative Research Network and professor J. Sumsion in 2014. Maria has won scholarships from the University of Melbourne and from the University of Athens.